Page 51 of Grayson’s Challenge

Grayson realized that this piece of news had slipped out accidentally. Zach’s and David’s gazes immediately landed on him.

“Uhm, yeah, we were strategizing how to proceed,” Monique said, her voice trembling for a second.

“Yeah,” Grayson helped, knowing that Monique wanted to keep what was between them a secret. “We brainstormed.” Well, not even he believed that. Thankfully, her brothers didn’t probe further.

“So, Mom knows about Abel?” David asked, bringing the conversation back to the subject at hand.

“She does,” Monique said, her voice strong again. “I got the feeling she suspected it deep down.”

“Let’s call her quickly,” David suggested. “Knowing Mom, she’ll worry even more if we don’t.”

Monique pulled her cell phone out and scrolled to Faye’s number. She put the call on speaker phone.

“Monique? Are the boys all right?” Faye’s voice was laced with both hope and worry.

“Don’t worry about us, Mom,” David said.

“You know us,” Zach added, “we’re pretty indestructible.”

“Thank God!” Faye replied. “What’ll happen now?”

“We’ll be going to New Orleans,” Zach explained.

“But you can’t go alone. Knowing Abel, he probably has a bunch of his men there. You can’t defeat them on your own. It’s too dangerous. Wait until we’ve rescued your father and Samson.”

“No, Mom, it’s gotta be done now,” David interjected. “Right now, Abel probably thinks we’re dead. His men won’t expect us. Besides, we’ll go there with the Stealth Guardians. And John and Cooper will be with us. They literally won’t see us coming.”

A sigh came through the line. “Still, I worry. Abel is cunning and evil.”

“Don’t worry about us, Mom,” Zach said, his tone gentle. “We won’t let Abel win.”

“I love you, boys.”

“Love you, Mom,” both Zach and David said and disconnected the call.

David handed the cell phone back to Monique, when the door to the basement opened, and Zoltan and his mate Enya appeared.

Enya was a natural blonde with long tresses she’d braided and pinned in circles around her head. Next to Zoltan, she looked tiny and fragile, but Grayson knew better. Enya was a formidable warrior. Zoltan had once been her archenemy, the ruler of the underworld. But when he’d fallen in love with Enya, his life had changed and his origins been revealed. With Enya’s love he’d been able to gain back his birthright. The erstwhile demon had shaken off evil.

“Zoltan, Enya,” Grayson greeted them, hugging Enya briefly, then slapping Zoltan on the shoulder. “Great to see you, guys.”

“Grayson,” Enya said. “Everybody in Baltimore is sending their love. We miss you and Ryder.”

“Miss you guys too.” Then he motioned to the triplets. “I don’t think you know Zach, David, and Monique, do you?”

As they all greeted each other, Grayson caught John’s eye. He was just shoving his cell phone back into his pocket.

“Savannah should be here in a moment,” John announced.

“Good, then you guys can leave for New Orleans shortly,” Grayson said, realizing instantly why John had called his blood-bonded mate.

Monique took a step toward him and John, while Zoltan and Enya continued talking to David and Zach.

“John, you can’t take Savannah with you. It’s too dangerous for a human.” She put her hand on John’s forearm.

“Of course not,” John assured her quickly. “I just need to feed before leaving. I need to be at my top strength, since we don’t know what we’re facing in New Orleans and how long we have to stay.”

Monique released a sigh of relief, and at the thought of John feeding from his mate, Grayson’s gaze was drawn to Monique’s neck, then lower to her breasts. Only a few short hours ago, his fangs had been in Monique’s breast, lodged deep, her delicious blood filling his mouth and running down his throat.